Network functions virtualization management and orchestration method, network functions virtualization management and orchestration system, and program

ABSTRACT

VNF (Virtual Network Function) descriptor (VNFD) is configured to include an entry that describes a definition of at least one predetermined apparatus connected to each VDU (Virtual Deployment Unit) on a same layer as an information element of the VDU, with a definition element including an apparatus name of the apparatus being provided under the entry and associated with the entry. The VNFD is received from a storage unit storing the VNFD, and an associated instance is created.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

-   This application is a National Stage of International Application     No. PCT/JP2016/051895 filed Jan. 22, 2016, claiming priority based     on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-011810, filed Jan. 23, 2015,     the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in     their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

-   The present invention relates to a network management and     orchestration technology. More specifically, the invention relates     to a method, a system, and a program suitable for being applied to     network functions virtualization (Network Functions Virtualization)     management and orchestration.

BACKGROUND ART

There is known NFV (Network Functions Virtualization) or the like configured to implement a network apparatus and so on in software, using a virtualization technology that virtualizes hardware resources (computing, storage, network functions and so on) of a server by a virtual machine (VM: Virtual Machine) implemented on a virtualization layer (Virtualization Layer) such as a hypervisor (HyperVisor) on the server. The NFV is implemented, based on a MANO (Management & Orchestration) architecture, for example. FIG. 1 is a diagram cited from FIG. 5.1 (The NFV-MANO architectural framework with reference points) on page 23 of Non-Patent Literature 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, VNF (Virtualized Network Function) corresponds to an application or the like running on a virtual machine (VM) on a server, and implements a network function in software. As VNF, MME (Mobility Management Entity), S-GW (Serving Gateway), P-GW (PDN Gateway), and so forth on EPC (Evolved Packet Core) that is a core network of LTE (Long Term Evolution) network may be implemented by software (virtual machine). In the example of FIG. 1, a management function referred to as EM (Element Manager: element management) is provided for each VNF, for example.

NFVI (Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure) that constitutes an implementation infrastructure of each VNF is an infrastructure that allows hardware resources of a physical machine (server) such as computing, storage, and network functions to be flexibly handled as virtualized hardware resources such virtualized computing, virtualized storage, virtualized network, and so on which have been virtualized using a virtualization layer such as a hypervisor.

NFV MANO (Management & Orchestration) includes an NFV-Orchestrator (NFVO), a VNF-manager (VNFM), and a Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM).

The NFV-Orchestrator (NFVO) performs orchestration of NFVI resources and lifecycle management (such as Instantiation, Scaling, Termination, and Update of each NS instance) of NSs (Network Services). The NFV-Orchestrator also performs management of an NS catalog (NSD/VLD/VNFFGD) and a VNF catalog (VNFD/VM images/manifest files, etc.), and includes a repository of NS instances and a repository of the NFVI resources.

The VNF-Manager (VNFM) performs VNF lifecycle management (such as instantiation, update, query, scaling, termination, etc.) and event notification.

The virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) performs control of the NFVI (such as computing, storage, network resource management, fault monitoring of the NFVI being the implementation infrastructure of the NFV, and monitoring of resource information) through the virtualization layer.

OSS (Operations Support Systems) are a generic term for systems (such as apparatuses, software, and schemes) necessary for telecommunications carriers (carriers) to construct and manage services, for example. BSS (Business Support systems) are a generic term for information systems (such as apparatuses, software, and schemes) to be used for accounting for and charging of a usage charge and handling of a customer by the telecommunications carriers.

The NS Catalogue (NS catalog: an NS Catalogue in FIG. 1) represents repository of network Services. NS Catalogue supports creation and management of NS deployment templates (Network Service Descriptor (NSD), Virtual Link Descriptor (VLD), and VNF Forwarding Graph Descriptor (VNFFGD)).

The VNF catalog (VNF catalog: a VNF Catalogue in FIG. 1) represents repository of VNF packages. The VNF catalog supports creation and management of each VNF package of a VNF Descriptor (VNFD), a software image, a manifest file and so forth.

The NFV instance repository (NFV instances Repository: NFV Instances in FIG. 1) holds information of all VNF instances and Network Service instances. Each VNF instance and each NS instance are represented respectively by a VNF record and by an NS record. Those records are updated during a lifecycle of the respective instances, reflecting changes resulting from execution of NS lifecycle management operations and/or VNF lifecycle management operations.

The NFVI resources repository (NFVI Resources Repository: NFVI Resources in FIG. 1) holds information on available/reserved/allocated resources as extracted by the VIM across operator's infrastructure domains.

Referring to FIG. 1, a reference point Os-Nfvo is a reference point between the OSS (Operations Support Systems)/BSS (Business Support Systems) and the NFVO, and is used for forwarding a lifecycle management request of each network service, a VNF lifecycle management request, state information associated with NFV, exchange of policy management information, and so on.

A reference point Vnfm-Vi is used for a resource allocation request from the VNFM and exchange of virtualized resource configuration and state information.

A reference point Ve-Vnfm-em is used between the EM and the VNFM for VNF instantiation, VNF instance retrieval, VNF instance update, VNF instance termination, VNF instance scaling-out/in, VNF instance scaling-up/down, forwarding of configuration and events from the EM to the VNFM, and notification of configuration and events regarding the VNF from the VNFM to the EM, and so on.

A reference point Ve-Vnfm-Vnf is used between the VNF and the VNFM for VNF instantiation, VNF instance retrieval, VNF instance update, VNF instance termination, VNF instance scaling-out/in, VNF instance scaling-up/down, forwarding of configuration and events from the VNF to the VNFM, and notification of configuration and events regarding the VNF from the VNFM to the VNF, and so on.

A reference point Nf-Vi is used for VM allocation with indication of compute/storage resource, update of VM resources allocation, VM migration, VM termination, creation and removal of connection between VMs, etc., virtual resources allocation in response to a resource allocation request, forwarding of virtual resource state information, exchange of configuration and state information of hardware resources, and so on.

A reference point Vn-Nf indicates an execution environment to be provided to the VNF by the NFVI.

A reference point Nfvo-Vnfm is used for a resource-related request (of validation, reservation (reservation), or allocation, etc.) by the VNF-manager (VNFM) and forwarding of configuration information to the VNFM, and collection of VNF state information.

A reference point Nfvo-Vi is used for a resource reservation request and a resource allocation request from the NFVO, and exchange of virtual resource configuration and state information (for details, reference may be made to Non-Patent Literature 1).

FIG. 2 is cited from FIG. 6.2 (Information elements in different context) on page 40 of Non-Patent Literature 1. An instantiation input parameter is input.

Referring to FIG. 2, a network service descriptor (Network Service Descriptor: NSD) is a network service deployment template for referencing other descriptors that describe components constituting a network service (NS).

A VNF descriptor (VNF Descriptor: VNFD) is a deployment template that describes a VNF in terms of deployment and operational behavior requirements.

The VNFD is mainly used by the VNFM in VNF instantiation (instantiation) and VNF instance lifecycle management. The VNFD is used for a network service and management and orchestration of virtualized resources on the NFVI (automation of deployment/setting/management of a computer system/middleware/service) by the NFVO. The VNFD also contains connectivity, interface and KPIs requirements that can be used by NFV-MANO functional blocks to establish appropriate Virtual Links within the NFVI between its VNFC instances, or between a VNF instance and the endpoint interface to the other network functions.

A VNF Forwarding Graph Descriptor (VNFFGD) is a deployment template that describes a network service topology or a part of the topology by referring to the VNFs, PNFs, and Virtual Links connecting those VNFs and PNFs.

A virtual link descriptor (Virtual Link Descriptor: VLD) is a deployment template that describes resource requirements necessary for links between the VNFs, between the PNFs, and between NS endpoints (endpoints) that can be used by the NFVI.

A physical network function descriptor (Physical Network Function Descriptor: PNFD) describes connectivity (connectivity), interface and KPIs requirements of a virtual link, for a function of an attached physical network. The PNFD is needed when a physical device is incorporated into an NS, and facilitates addition of a network.

The NSD, the VNFFGD, and the VLD are included in the NS catalog (Network Service Catalogue in FIG. 2), and the VNFD is included in the VNF catalogue (VNF Catalogue in FIG. 2) as the VNF package.

An NS or a VNF instantiation operation is performed from OSS/BSS or VNFM to NFVO. As a result of the instantiation operation, each record indicating a newly created instance is created. Each record to be created based on information to be given by each descriptor and additional runtime information related to a component instance provides data for modeling a network service (NS) instance state, for example.

As types of the instance records (NFV Instances) to be created, there may be listed the following types, for example:

-   Network Service Record (NSR); -   VNFFG Record (VNFFGR); -   Virtual Link Record (VLR); -   VNF (Virtualized Network Function) Record (VNFR); and -   PNF (Physical Network Function) Record (PNFR).

Information elements of the NSR, the VNFR, the VNFFGR, and the VLR provide a data item group necessary for modeling states of an NS instance, a VNF instance, a VNFFG instance, and a VL instance.

The PNF Record (PNFR) indicates an instance related to a pre-existing PNF which is part of an NS and contains a set of runtime attributes regarding PNF information (including connectivity relevant to the NFVO). An overview of each element of the NFV is summarized as lists in Tables 1 and 2.

TABLE 1 Functional Entity Description OSS/BSS Comprehensively performs operations/business support. A plurality of EMSs and Orchestrator are deployed on a low-order layer of OSS/BSS. Orchestrator Orchestration across a plurality of VIMs Management of NS(Network Service) deployment templates and VNF packages Management of instantiation and lifecycle management of NSs Management of instantiation of VNFM Management of VNF instantiation in coordination with VNFM Validation and authorization of NFVI resource request from VNFM Management of integrity and visibility of NS instances through their lifecycle Management of relationship between NS instances and VNF instances, using NFV instances Repository Topology management of NS instances Automated management of NS instances VNF-Manager Performs VNF lifecycle management * and event notification management. * Instantiation, Auto-Scaling, Auto-Healing, Update, and so on Virtualized Performs resource management and control of Infrastructure NFV infrastructure as follows: Manager (VIM) Management of computing, storage, and network resources Resource allocation in response to a request Monitoring of a fault state of NFV Infrastructure Monitoring of resource information of NFV Infrastructure

TABLE 2 Functional Entity Description Service VND and Defines information templates that become Infrastructure necessary for deploying each Network Service Description and each VNF NSD: a template that describes requirements and constraint conditions necessary for deployment of the NS VLD: describes resource requirements of a logical link connecting VNFs or connecting PNFs that constitute NS VNFGD: a template that describes a logical topology for and assignment of NS VNFD: a template that describes requirements and constraint conditions necessary for deploying VNF PNFD: describes, for a physical network function, connectivity, external interface, and KPIs requirements of a VL. NS Catalogue Repository of NSs Management of NS deployment templates (NSD, VLD, VNFFGD) VNF Catalogue Describes repository of each VNF. Management of each VNF package (VNFD, software images, manifest files, etc.) NFV Instances Holds instance information of all the VNFs and Repository all the NSs. Information on each instance is described in Record. Record is updated according to lifecycle of each instance. NFVI Resources Holds information of NFVI resources (NFVI Repository resources as abstracted by VIM across operator's Infrastructure Domains) that are available/reserved/allocated, for abstraction VNF Refers to a virtualized Network Function and refers to a VM (e.g., MME, SGW, PGW or the like) in which an EPC application is installed, being configured with VNF. EMS Performs management of FCAPS (FCAPS: Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security) of VNF. NFVI A resource infrastructure in which VNF is executed. Comprises computing, a storage, and a network. Physical resources are abstracted by hypervisor and abstracted resources are managed and controlled by VIM and are provided to VNF. 

1. A network functions virtualization management and orchestration method comprising: providing, in a VNF (Virtualized Network Function) descriptor (VNFD), an entry that describes a definition of at least one predetermined apparatus connected to a VDU (Virtual Deployment Unit) on a same layer as an information element of the VDU, with a definition element being provided under the entry in the VNFD, the definition element including an apparatus name of the apparatus and being associated with the entry, and storing the VNFD in a storage unit; and receiving the VNFD from the storage unit and creating an associated instance.
 2. The network functions virtualization management and orchestration method according to claim 1, wherein the VDU designates the entry defined in the VNFD, and an instance created based on the VNFD uses the same apparatus name among the VDUs, to allow sharing of the same apparatus among the VDUs.
 3. The network functions virtualization management and orchestration method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a storage, and the VNFD includes, as an information element that defines the storage, a storage definition entry that describes a definition of the storage, provided on the same layer as the information element of the VDU, wherein the storage definition entry includes, under the storage definition entry, a storage definition element including at least a storage name, an element type thereof being a leaf type, wherein the VDU designates, as a storage to be used, the storage definition entry on the same layer as the information element of the VDU defined in the VNFD and uses the same storage name among the VDUs, to allow sharing of the same storage among the VDUs.
 4. The network functions virtualization management and orchestration method according to claim 3, wherein VNFCs (Virtualized Network Functions Components) connecting to different storages are able to be deployed in the same VDU.
 5. A network functions virtualization management and orchestration apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores a VNF (Virtualized Network Function) descriptor (VNFD) provided with an entry that describes a definition of at least one predetermined apparatus connected to a VDU (Virtual Deployment Unit) on a same layer as an information element of the VDU, wherein the VNFD includes, under the entry, a definition element including at least an apparatus name of the apparatus and being associated with the entry; and a unit that receives the VNFD from the storage unit and creates an associated instance.
 6. The network functions virtualization management and orchestration apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the VDU designates the entry defined in the VNFD, and an instance created based on the VNFD uses the same apparatus name among the VDUs, to allow sharing of the same apparatus among the VDUs.
 7. The network functions virtualization management and orchestration apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus includes a storage, and the VNFD includes, as an information element that defines the storage, a storage definition entry that describes a definition of the storage, provided on the same layer as the information element of the VDU, wherein the storage definition entry includes, under the storage definition entry, a storage definition element including at least a storage name, an element type thereof being a leaf type, wherein the VDU designates, as a storage to be used, the storage definition entry on the same layer as the information element of the VDU defined in the VNFD and uses the same storage name among the VDUs, to allow sharing of the same storage among the VDUs.
 8. The network functions virtualization management and orchestration apparatus according to claim 7, wherein VNFCs (Virtualized Network Functions Components) connecting to different storages are able to be deployed in the same VDU.
 9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing therein a program causing a computer to execute processing including: receiving a VNF (Virtualized Network Function) descriptor (VNFD) from a storage unit; and creating an associated instance, the storage unit storing the VNFD provided with an entry that describes a definition of at least one predetermined apparatus connected to a VDU (Virtual Deployment Unit) on a same layer as an information element of the VDU, the VNFD including, under the entry, a definition element including at least an apparatus name of the apparatus and being associated with the entry.
 10. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the VDU designates the entry defined in the VNFD; and an instance created based on the VNFD uses the same apparatus name among the VDUs, to allow sharing of the same apparatus among the VDUs.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus includes a storage, and the VNFD includes, as an information element that defines the storage, a storage definition entry that describes a definition of the storage, provided on the same layer as the information element of the VDU, wherein the storage definition entry includes, under the storage definition entry, a storage definition element including at least a storage name, an element type thereof being a leaf type, wherein the VDU designates, as a storage to be used, the storage definition entry on the same layer as the information element of the VDU defined in the VNFD and uses the same storage name among the VDUs, to allow sharing of the same storage among the VDUs.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein VNFCs (Virtualized Network Functions Components) connecting to different storages are able to be deployed in the same VDU. 